Foldable metal awning



June 10, 1952 N. L. ETTEN 2,600,229

F LD-A Filed July 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 10, 1952 N. ETTEN2,600,229

FOLDABLE METAL AWNING Filed July 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2aELI/27722:?

M'cl'zolas L. Etiezz June 10, 1952 N. L. ETTEN 2,600,229

FOLDABLE METAL AWNING Filed July 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4

ETFETTZZIT JWc/Loias L. Effelz E wa a; 2M% H7775 June 10, 1952 N. ETTEN2,600,229

FOLDABLE METAL AWNING Filed July 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fl/l'c/zolczsL. Etten June 10, 1952 N. ETTEN FOLDABLE METAL AWNING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed July 11, 1951 Fiqn Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED ME -r osslxc Thisinvention relates toafoldablen etal awn: ing; and operating meanstherefor.

Conventional foldable awnings of, the ast have sufiered from numerousdisadvantages. In par: ticularthose constructedbfcanvas and th eplike 5have .been generally, quite flimsy in; constructionp andsare-highlysusceptibleto damage by wind; and. .the. elements.

An object of this; inyention is; to provideen; improved awning of, astrong and;-durable metal 1 construction.

Another object of thisiinvention is to provide improved operating meanstor a foldableawning A further'object of thisinvention is;to'p ;ovideanimproved awning readily constructed oi install: arid1sm0othlyand-easilyactuatable betweerkre al edan ende o tio Still another objectof this inveh-tiomis to; provide an improved -fo1dable W metal;"awning*sci constructed as, to be self locking inbothre traot'ed andextended positions.

A i still further OblfiOt of this invention: is, to provide a foldableawning with iniptroxnd -'ope'rating means whereb y itcan be qu-iclilyand easily extended. I

According to this invention, the awnin in:- eludes M a plurality; offhinge -connectedj lowered 1 panel 'seetions 'actuatable from compactfolded};- no 'i ns. o xt d d re i l s I ivet l i de, panels areconnected to the top ipanel sectidns f sodas, to be actuatedtherewithandare sg s1 p se s to ofiervs ppo orith fie st nde ton. pane s we l as.oi r v ntientlrn tp ain r; thellike frOmQthe sides, 7 Thej. inge ionnect hns.. of the top panels are so relatedthat the 'top p n s.arrelin overecenter,v lo king rela ion i t e" extende Qs ionsI .theref;wh.. e swe sht o the Jba Ild "themselves m in ains em'. s per:imposed. ela ion. in, the J r tr ct d. no,v ti ns. thereofi 5 Thenuterextended p paneirsect on s,-a.. valance wsection hin ed here o, a 12 pe:nd; pulley er' tinameans ;ac.t.;on; he al nce see-1 tion ,;to retract or(fold .theflawninaj The jvalance section, in, its initial, retracting.45.

movement engages the outer, extendefi topipanlelg section to moveit outof it'slo er centeg ioelz d position, The awni sic nl e I. u clsly; xte.1;1.1e .r.1;l, the-f robe being so. connected that, onlyv mm; movement.is. thejoldedtposition gthereor,to .fa.positio wh; the weight of theparts themselves will c'af yqtheml togthe-extended positions thereofiOther obj ects} features and =ad vantages y of, the

r se t; invention fwill become} m og grei y gapgi 55.

,ecessary to moveitheriiartsi from;

10 Clailns.v (01. -58) parent from the following detailed description,taken; in; c0njuncti0n with the accompanying; drawings which; illustratea preferred embodiment oi ti-reinvention and in which:

Figured is a perspectiveviewof an awnings, qnstructed according to thisinvention mounted j on a window frame and in extended position; I

Figure 2 is a perspective view v of the dawning of Figure 1 in retractedor: folded positi nil Figure Bis aside elevationalviewlof the awning, ofFigure 1 with thefpartsin the Qrelativepositic'mns; thereof 5 just after1 p the I start of the, retractin ov me t;

Figure 4 is aside-elevational view of. the awning showing the relativepositions of the parts at 1. a further stage of theretracting movement;

Figure v5 is a; side elevational View of fan u'pper; portion of theawning with the top panelsections, in s folded: positions,- theretracting movement; havingbeen completed;

Figure ,fi-is, asectional view taken along line ,VI VI of vFigure 1;

Figure '7 is a frontelevational view illustrating the; rope and Vpulley; operating; meansforthe awning,:the;top panels and sides beingshown ,in'{ phantomsfor clarityof illustration; and

Figure. 8 .is aqsectional View; on an enlarged; scale, takensubstantially; aiong line of Figure 1.

In general, an awning l constructed according to this inventionm ayinclude an'vuppen louvered top panel or canopy 7 section 20 arranged tobe affixed to and extend .outwardlyiand downwardly; from the upperportion of a window ordoor frame; Apair of triangulate side panelsZlandllhayeupper edge portionsfthereof lsecured,to the top;v panels 20.Inturned flanges atlthe. -rear1ver.tical;,, edges of the side panels '2l and 22 may be secured; to the side members of thewindowiordoor frames;

An intermediate louvered .topl panelsection23=zz is -hinged by means ofpins 2'1" to the flower and; outer edge pqrtion of the upper fixed toppanel;; 20 and an outerlo'uvered top panel-section 25 is; hinged bypins- 25 to the-intermediate section- 23; The tbp panelsections 23 andZB maylthus, be folded into superimposed relation' over-"th fixed toppanel section 20 as illus trat'ed in Figures 2 and 5 or may be actuatedto the extended positions illustrated inFigures 1 and 6. Themovesubstantially vment of the top panel. sections 23-,andy25 -will;be

clearfrQm preference. to Figures :3 and f4} which show the sections inintermediate positions; Tois deithesec ions 3 'andfit n l h rm m nitbetwe nl e ed. and. extended i'ppsition sia pairs; arrns..;21;arepivoted bylpin's 281.130 lower:

3 portions of the fixed side panels 2| and 22 and are pivotally securedto the outer top panel section 25.

A plurality of side panels are arranged to be movable from retractedpositions in nested relationship with the fixed side panels 2| and 22 toextended positions in which they are so disposed as to offer support forthe extended top panels as well as to prevent entry of rain and the likefrom the side. These include a pair of intermediate triangulate sidepanels 29 and 30 and a pair of outer triangulate panels 3| and 32 eachpivotally secured to the associated one of the fixed side panels 2| and22 by means of pins 32a.

The movable side panels 29, 30, and 3| and 32 are connected together forconcurrent movement. For this purpose, a horizontal hollow shaft 33 isjournaled for rotation between the fixed side panels 2| and 22 and belowthe fixed top panel section 20. are secured to the shaft 33, anintermediate point on each lever arm 34 being connected through a linkor arm 35 to the associated one of the intermediate side panels 29 and3B and an outer point of each lever arm 34 being connected through alink or arm 36 to the associated one of the outer side panels 3| and 32.

A unique and advantageous arrangement is provided for actuation of themovable parts of the awning from the extended positions thereof to thefolded positions thereof. This arrangement includes a valance section 38which is hinged to the outer top panel section 25 by pins 39. Rope andpulley means are arranged to act on this valance section 38 to retractthe awning. Lost-motion connections are provided between the valancesection 38 and the side panels 3| and 32 including a pair of arcuateslots 40 (Figure 6) in the outer side panels 3| and 32; headed studs 4|afiixed to the valance section 33 are engaged in these arcuate slots 43.

The advantages of the lost-motion connections and of other structuresdescribed above will be made clear hereinafter in a detailed descriptionof the operation of the awning, but a clear understanding of the ropeand pulley arrangement will be advantageous in considering the operationas a whole and will now be described.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, a pair of pulleys 42 and 43 arerotatably secured to the valance section 38 and three pulleys 44, 45 and4B are mounted beneath the fixed top panel section 20. A rope 41 issecured at one end to the shaft 33 and extends downwardly to the valancesection 38, about the pulley 42, upwardly over the shaft 33, around thepulley 44, over to and around pulley 45, downwardly over the shaft 33 tothe valance 38, around the pulley 43, upwardly over the shaft 33, aroundthe pulley 46, downwardly to a looped portion with the other end of therope 41 being secured to the right-hand link 36, viewed in Figure 6,adjacent the pivotal connection of the link 36 to the arm 34. The loopedportion of the rope 41 forms actuating portions 41a and 411) which maybe selectively pulled downwardly manually to retract or extend theawning.

Retraction It will be seen that when the awning is extended asillustrated in Figures 1 and 6, the axis of hinge pins 26 is below aline through the axis of hinge pins 24 and the axis of pivotalconnection of the arms 21 to the outer to panel section 25 so that themovable top panel sections 23 and 25 l are effectively locked in anover- A pair of lever arms 34 center relation. When the portion 47a ofthe rope 4! is pulled downwardly, the rope will act inwardly on thevalance-section pulleys 42 and 43, and the valance section 38 and theouter top panel section 25 will pivot as a unit about the axis ofpivotal connection of the arm 2'! to the top panel section 25. Theposition of the parts just after this initial retracting movement hastaken place is illustrated in Figure 3. It will be noted that, as shownin Figure 3, the parts have been moved out of over-center lockingposition with the axis of pin 25 above a line through the axis of pin 24and the axis of pivotal connections of the arms 21 with the top panelsection 25. Thus the parts that have been locked in over-center relationin the extended position thereof will be moved out of the lockingrelation in the initial retracting actuation of the rope 41.

Further downward movement of the portion 41a of the rope will move theparts through the position of Figure 4 to the fully retracted. positionas shown in Figures 2 and 5. It will be noted that the side panels areretracted through the engagement of studs 4| on the valance section 38in the slots 40 in the side panels 3| and 32. The lost-motion connectionprovided by studs 4| and the slots 40 prevents locking and binding ofthe parts in their movement between retracted and extended positions.

Extension To actuate the movable parts of the awning from the retractedposition thereof illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 to the extendedposition, the portion 411) of the rope is pulled downwardly which willrotate the lever arm 34 counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, toforce the movable side panels outwardly by means of links 35, 36. Theouter side panels 3| and 32 will actuate the valance section 38outwardly through the engagement of studs 4| in slots 40 and the valencesection 38, in turn, moves the top panel sections 23 and 25 about theaxis of hinge pins 24 until a position is reached where the weight ofthe top panel sections and side panel sections is sufiicient to carrythem on out to the extended position thereof. Thus only a comparativelysmall movement of the portion 41b of the rope is required to extend theawning.

Having thus described the construction and operation of the awning ingeneral, the construction and assembly of the component parts of theawning of this invention will be described in detail.

The upper fixed top panel section 20 includes a pair of facingallochiral channels 5| and 52 between which a plurality of louvers aresecured. The channels 5| and 52 are secured to inturned flanges at theupper edges of fixed side panels 2| and 22 as by rivets. An upper orwatershed louver 53, Figure 6, is secured at each end below the upperlegs or flanges of the channels 5| and 52 and has a downturned flange5311 which may be secured to the upper member of a window or door frame,aS by screws.

A plurality of louvers 54 are secured in overlapping relation betweenthe side panels 5| and 52. For this purpose, the side panels 5| and 52have integrally formed attachment ears 55 and 56 to which the louvers 54are riveted or otherwise affixed.

The pulley blocks 44, 45 and 43 may be aflixed to members 51 which aremounted below the watershed louver 53. The ends of the shaft 33areiiournaledin bearingplates 58 secured to the side vchannels-,5 l, and52 .1

The-intermediate toppanel section Zsincludes a pairpf allochiralsidechannels 59 and 60 and a plurality of louvers 6| afiixedtherebetween. The sidechannels59 and 60 are preferably providedwithz'integral tabs 62 and 631: which the louvers Glare riveted orotherwise secured. To hinge the;

toppanelsection 23 to the fixed toppanel section 2il,- the-side:channels 5i and 5201 the fixed top panelsectionifl and the side channels59 and 6t ofithe intermediate top panel section 23 are preferably formedwith integral loops forming bearings fertile-hinge pins 24..

The..: outer top;panel section 25 includes a pair of allochiral sidechannels 65 and 66 each having integral mountingfltabs 61 and 68 towhich end portions of a plurality of louvers 69 are riveted or otherwiseafiixed. To hinge thetop panel section 25 to the top...panel section23,. the side channels 59 and 60 of the top panel section 23 and theside channels 65 and 66 of the top panel section ZS- may beformed withintegral loops forming bearings for thehingepins 2d. The pivotalconnection between the arms 2'! and the top panel section are likewiseprovided by integral loops H on the side channels 65 and 66 whichprovide bearings in which transversely extending terminal end portionsof the arms 2? are journaled.

The valance section 38 includes a pair of a1lo chiral side brackets 13and i l each having a generally L-shaped cross-section and a valanceplate 15 extending between and aflixed to the brackets 13 and 14. Thebrackets 73 and i l have integral loop portions aligned with integralloop portions of the side channels 65 and Eli of the top panel section25 to provide bearings for the hinge pins 39.

The pulleys 42 and 43 are rotatably supported on a pair of brackets 16and TI, respectively (Figures 6 and 8), which are secured to the sidebrackets 13 and M, respectively, of the valance section 38. The studs M,which extend through the slots 40 in the side panels 3! and 32, arethreaded into internally threaded openings in the pulley supportbrackets 16 and H.

In summary, the awning of this invention is assembled from readilyformed metal parts to provide a strong and durable constructionattractive in appearance. The movable components of the awning lock inover-center relation in the extended positions thereof but may bereadily actuated by the rope and pulley arrangement into foldedpositions. The awning may be quickly and easily extended since the ropeneed be pulled downwardly only a comparatively small distance to actuatethe panels to positions Where they are carried by their own weight tothe extend locked positions thereof.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An awning comprising a plurality of hingeconnected top panel sectionsextendable from folded relation to extended over-center locked relation,and retracting means acting on the outermost top panel section andinitially moving said sections out of said over-center locked relation.

2. An awning comprising a plurality of hingeconnected top panel sectionsfoldable from extended relation into gravity-locked superimposedrelation, and extending means actuatable to move ation'z nd r xtendedrposition :in-= -overscenter ded; 1 s t ens.r hisravitxelockedgsunerimpcse ked posi ions,- roper. andepnu y; retrac means, acting:zOIl; =the. loutermoste cp panelisec tion and initially moving saidsections out of said over-center locked relation, and extending meansactuatable to move said panel sections out of said superimposed relationto positions in which they are gravity-impelled to said extendedpositions.

6. An awning comprising a downwardly inclined fixed top panel section, afirst movable top panel section hinged to said fixed top panel section,a second movable top panel section hinged to said first movable toppanel section, and a guide and support arm pivoted at one end thereof tosaid second movable section and pivoted at the other end thereof formovement about a fixed axis spaced below said fixed top panel section,said movable panels being actuatable from folded positions insuperimposed gravity-locked relation over said fixed top panel sectionto extended positions generally in alignment with said fixed top panelsection and in over-center locked relation.

7. An awning comprising a downwardly inclined fixed top panel section,a, first movable top panel section hinged to said fixed top panelsection, a second movable top panel section hinged to said first movabletop panel section, and a guide and support arm pivoted at one endthereof to said second movable section and pivoted at the other endthereof for movement about a fixed axis spaced below said fixed toppanel section, said movable panels bein actuatable from folded positionsin superimposed gravity-locked relation about said fixed top panelsection to extended positions generally in alignment with said fixed toppanel sections in which the axis of the hinge connection of said firstand second movable top panel section is spaced below a line through theaxis of the hinged connection of said first movable section to saidfixed section and the axis of pivotal connection of said guide arm tosaid second section, whereby said sections are locked in over-centerrelation.

8. An awning comprising a downwardly inclined fixed top panel section, afirst movable top panel section hinged to said fixed top panel section,a second movable top panel section hinged to said first movable toppanel section, a guide and support arm pivoted at one end thereof tosaid second movable section and pivoted at the other end thereof formovement about a fixed axis spaced below said fixed panel section, saidmovable panels being actuatable from folded positions in stackedgravity-locked relation above said fixed top panel section to extendedpositions generally in alignment with said fixed top panel section andin over-center locked relation, a valance section connected to saidsecond movable top panel section, and rope and pulley retracting meansacting on said valance section to pivot the same and said second movabletop panel section about the axis of the pivotal connection between saidarm and said second movable section and thereby out of overcenter lockedrelation.

9. An awning comprising a downwardly inclined fixed top panel section, afirst movable top panel section hinged to said fixed top panel section,a second movable top panel section hinged to said first movable toppanel section, said movable panels being foldable from extended relationinto gravity-locked superimposed relation over said fixed sections, andawning extending means for actuating said movable sections out of foldedrelation to positions in which they are gravity-impelled to extendedpositions.

10. An awning comprising a plurality of hinge connected top panelsections foldable from extended positions into gravity-lockedsuperimposed relation, a pair of side panel assemblies each including aplurality of side panels movable fan-like from positions in nestedrelation to extended position in supporting relation to said top panelsections, means connecting said side panel assemblies and said toppanels for concurrent movement, and awning extending means acting onsaid side panels and actuatable to move said top panel sections out ofsaid gravity-locked superimposed relation to positions in which they aregravity-impelled to extended positions.

NICHOLAS L. ET'I'EN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

